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Grand Canyon 2005
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Grand Canyon Backpack - Day 5
The South Kaibab Trail and Our Exit
Our break at the Tonto/South Kaibab Trail junction was over - It was time to be off for the final leg of the journey up the South Kaibab trail and out of the Grand Canyon.

Shannon was in front, and set a rather fast pace (where did all that energy come from?) The trail was very smooth (but dusty), which made it nice and fast to hike on. We met lots of people on the way down, all of whom looked and smelled a lot cleaner than us!
Mule train
Shannon bounds up the trail
Rounding the corner
Part of the trail consists of a long section of switchbacks as it goes up through the Redwall limestone. Shannon was still leading us up, followed by Andrew, myself, Caroline and Brian. About halfway up, Shannon looks down at Caroline, and shouts to her that she just realized that Caroline was carrying all the weight (tent, stove, pot, etc....) of the things that they were sharing, and would Caroline like it if she took some of it off of her?, to which Caroline replies, "You just figured that out now?!" Much laughter ensued after this exchange.
courtesy BConnell
Nearing the switchbacks
Caro negotiates switchbacks
Phantom Ranch
courtesy BConnell
Rounding an airy corner
Jenn and Andrew on South Kaibab
Redwall switchbacks
Video Clip: Finishing Tonto and starting up South Kaibab
Things started to slow down above 5000 feet. We'd been pushing hard all day, the air was getting thinner, and the trail had these annoyingly-spaced cross-timbers that seemed perfect for messing with your hiking stride. Shannon started to bonk and the pace slowed dramatically. At about 6000 ft, at a place called Cedar Ridge, we took a long break in the shade. Squirrels were running all over the place scavenging for food, and they were the biggest squirrels I had ever seen! This must be from years of tourists feeding them, - they were the size of cats! (o.k.....maybe a small cat.)
Mule Train on the South Kaibab
Near O'neill Butte
SK Group Shot
Very Old West
Cedar Ridge
Harsh Life in the Desert
Shannon must truly have "hit the wall", as she fell asleep on her mat. So much for the saying on the back of her shirt! [which said "Hey you, don't give up!"- ed]. Brian took this opportunity to do a little juggling act, which apparently is a tradition for him. Caroline filmed the historic moment.
Final Foot Maintenance
Should we comment?
Hey you, don't give up!
courtesy BConnell
Juggling Tradition
Sky-high
Shannon prays for the end
Now, our van was more than 30km away to the east on the highway, and we had to get a taxi to get back to it. In the interest of speeding all of that up, Andrew and I decided to head off first to get to the rim and take the taxi to get the van. Caroline followed only minutes later, and Shannon and Brian a bit after that.
courtesy BConnell
Cedar Ridge Departure
Ass of ass
Beautiful Ridgewalk
Getting going again was a bit tough at first, but soon we were back in the rhythm, and got to the top by about 3:15pm. Success! As it turns out, we'd just completed about 65km of hiking. Andrew immediately called the cab company and arranged to be driven back to the van. Caroline was next to the top, arriving about 5 or 10 minutes later. Andrew was off getting the van, Shannon and Brian reached the rim (by about 4 pm). Good job, guys! Shannon comments that "oh, gee, that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be." Sure, Shannon , sure....
courtesy BConnell
South Kaibab Panorama
courtesy BConnell
Layers of time
A single canyon again
The south rim
The Chasm Below
Warning for the Unprepared
Caroline nears top
courtesy CDoucet
Calling for the Taxi
Caroline finishes!
Shannon and Brian approach the rim
courtesy CDoucet
Shannon and Brian make it!
Andrew and Jenn at the south rim
Video Clip: Remainder of South Kaibab Climb to the Rim
Interactive Trackmap with photo points - hike out on South Kaibab - click map to view
Interactive Trackmap with photo points - hike out on South Kaibab - click to view
Backpack Day 5: Tonto from BH9/BJ9 Boundary, up South Kaibab - Hike Data
Start Time: 5:47a.m.
End Time: 3:23p.m.
Duration: 9h35m
Distance: 16.79 km (10.43 mi)
Average Speed: 1.8 km/hr (1.1 mph)
Start Elevation: 3728ft (1136m) *
Max Elevation: 7210ft (2198m) *
Min Elevation: 3552ft (1083m) *
End Elevation: 7210ft (2198m) *
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 3755ft (1145m) *
Total Elevation Loss: 339ft (103m) *
 
 
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
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